Lease (Goff/Brownson)

On March 28, 1791, Charles Barnet Goff and his wife Susannah Louisa Goff, both of Sunbury in Liberty County, leased “certain Negroes” to Nathan Brownson, also of Liberty County, for five years. They were identified as “Isaac a fellow, Dinah, Cloe [alt: Chloe], Hannah, Bess, Mary Ann, and Salley [alt: Sally] females.” Goff specified that they were to “serve and obey [Brownson] as good and faithfull Slaves ought to serve and obey a Master or owner during said Term of five years, to commence from the first day of April next. Brownson was to provide them with food and clothing, “such as he usually does or hereafter may find for his own Negroes,” and was to “pay due attention to them in Sickness, and to make use of non unusual severity to them the said Slaves.” Brownson paid two pounds sterling at the time of the indenture, and was to pay 30 pounds sterling at the end of the first year, and 67 pounds sterling at the conclusion of the other four years. It was also agreed that if any of these enslaved people became sick in such a way that would “render them unfit for service for one month in any one year,” there would be a deduction in the payment both for lost service and for any medical attention rendered. There would also be a deduction if any of them were to run away. Violation of the terms by either side would cost the penal sum of 500 pounds sterling. Witnessed by James Gignilliatt Junior. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on July 20, 1791. 

The next deed, dated March 20, 1791, recorded that Charles Barnet Goff and his wife Susannah Louisa Goff had “sold” [leased] to Nathan Brownson for 10 pounds sterling the same individuals named in the above deed “upon special trust and in confidence” and that “after the term of five years, for term the said Negroes are Sold to the said Nathan Brownson,” Brownson was to allow Susannah Louisa Goff during her natural life to “order direct employ and make use of all the above said Negro Slaves and their issue, and the income employment easing, issues and profits to take to her sold use and behoof without any account reckoning to be rendered to him the said Nathan Brownson.” If she were to die, Brownson would convey them to her surviving children, share and share alike, or to her lawful heirs if no children. Also witnessed by James Gignilliat Junior, and recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on July 20, 1791.

On March 28, 1791, Charles B. Goff gave Nathan Brownson power of attorney.  Witnessed by James Gignilliat Junior and recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on July 21, 1791.

On August 19, 1791, Charles Barnet Goff, Liberty County, warranted that if he did not appear in the Liberty County Inferior Court on the first day of the next session, a sale to John Blackstock, merchant of Liberty County, of “the following Negroe slaves, to Wit, one Negroe man named Isaac, one Negroe female Slave named Dinah one ditto named Chloe, one ditto named Hannah, one ditto named Mary Anne, one ditto named Rose, one ditto named Salley [alt: Sally], and one ditto named Mary…” for 150 pounds sterling would become valid. If he did appear, and also promised to hold harmless John Blackstock against any suit on his part and reimburse John Blackstock the sum of 150 pounds sterling, then the sale would not take place. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on August 20, 1791.